790 



THE TROPICAL AGRICULTURIST. 



[April i, 1885. 



Stoee. — Tho stove should be a little more substantially 

 built. 



In conclusion I may add, that, if after due experiment the 

 above is fouud to answer, and I have very little doubt that 

 it would not, I would suggest your arranging to import 

 only the stoves and having the flues manufactured in 

 Ceylon on designs sent out by the makers, wood and labour 

 being cheap in Ceylon. It would enable you to supply 

 small gardens (and maybe larger ones too) with a cheap 

 and efficient drier. — I remain, dear sirs, yours faithfully, 

 (Signed) J as. H. Barber. 



RESPECTING CINCHONA TREES RICH 

 IN ALKALOIDS. 



Tho Scottish Trust and Loan Company of Ceylon, Ld,, 

 London, 22nd January 1885. 



Dear Sir, — I enclose some correspondence that 

 has taken place regarding cinchonidine as it appear 

 in bark. 



It is worth the attention of planters to ascert- 

 ain from observation — when the bark of a tree, 

 by analysis showing a very large percentage of 

 cinohonidine and not much sulphate of quinine, 

 when said bark becomes renewed and its aualysis 

 shows a large percentage of sulphate of quinine and 

 a decrease in the cinchonidine in proportion — whether 

 such trees should not be closely watched and trees of 

 this description highly prized. 



I have already drawn Mr. G. H. D. Elphinstone's 

 atteution to this in reference to the Stair cinchona 

 and also other estates in which we are interested. 

 — I am, dear sir, yours faithfully, 



THOMAS DICKSON. 



38, Mincing Lane, London, 16th Jan. 18S5. 

 T. Dickson, Esq. 



Dear Sir, — In accordance with your request for 

 information respecting the influence of cultivation 

 and renewal upon the yield of alkaloids in cinchona 

 bark, we now send you a paper containing the 

 results of a number of analyses made by Dr. Paul 

 to elucidate this particular point. 



In addition we may mention that Dr. Paul had 

 some time ago an opportunity of examining a sample 

 of bark— suceirubra — where original and renewed bark 

 were associated together on the same quills, aud the 

 results of analysis were as follows : — 



Original bark lieuewed bark, 

 per cent. per ceut. 



Quinine ... 131 T74 



Cinchonidine ... 1S2 1-'J4 



Cinchonine ... 1'86 I'M 



If there is any further way in which we can be 

 of assistance, we shall be happy to do so on hearing 

 from you. — We are, dear sir, yours faithfully, 



Patby & Pasteur 

 [The table referred to, with the appended remarks, 

 was given on pages 71S19 of the Tropical Agri- 

 culturist, Vol. III.— Ed.] 



MR. ROBERT CROSS ON THE TRUE CIN- 

 CHONAS AND RUBBERS. 



No. 19, Cramond, Near Edinburgh, 6th Feb. 1885. 



Sir, — Respecting your remarks on my communic- 

 ation which appeared in your journal of the ISth of 

 last October suggesting a full description of the real 

 red bark cinchona tree, I may stale in reply that I 

 consider the fullest details which could be written 

 down would not suffice always to lead to its recogni- 

 tion when growing among spurious sorts, some of which 

 it often resembles. This is owing to the fact that at 

 different elevations and with varied aspects aud con- 

 ditions eaoh species of cinchona when under cultivation 

 presents a surprising multitude of modifications and 



types. I do not know how far a treatise with plates 

 would go in this matter. Your suggestion of import- 

 ing a collection of red bark plants into Ceylon from 

 South America goes no doubt to the root of the ques- 

 tion, though for the performance of such a duty it 

 would be necessary for one to proceed personally to 

 the native forests of the tree to collect plants, a course 

 which would require a special contract as otherwise 

 no one could expect to recoup themselves solely by 

 the ealj of a few hundreds of plants imported from their 

 native habitat. Such a course, however, would be well 

 worth all the trouble and expense it would cost, as 

 it would iusure a stock .of the real original red bark 

 plant besides clearing up the doubts entertained by 

 some on the subject. If the cinchona plantations in 

 Ceylon were mine, I would go over the whole of 

 them— up one row and down another— and root out 

 every Bpurious tree or plant of inferior sppcies. It 

 must be remembered that there are several inferior 

 sorts besides the Huanueo bark scattered throughout 

 the plantations in the East. I would then form 

 small detached plantations of each species in a favour- 

 able locality solely for the production of seed. This 

 course would prevent auy jumbling in the future 

 besides being a source where planters could obtain 

 supplies of seeds of all the really good commercial 

 sorts. If proper sites are chosen, and if due attention 

 is paid to the young plants until they attain to some 

 height, then a moderately sized plantation of such a 

 sort as the real red cinchona ought in a very limited 

 number of years to be an ample fortune for anyone. 

 There are some important points to be looked to] 

 not involving it is true extra expenditure, but which 

 embrace various things during the period of growth 

 and until the bark from the tree is ready for the 

 bale ; and these various points all cinchona plant- 

 ers should thoroughly master and understand, 

 or they should be taught them. There is not the 

 least doubt that with <jood sorts it is perfectly poss- 

 ible to steadily produce bark from the one end of 

 a plantation to the other containing from S to 10 

 per cent of sulphate of quiniue. Planters ought to 

 learn to do this with as much certainty as ihey 

 could boil a potful of potatoes. Otherwise a planter's 

 position must always be like that of one groping in 

 the dark for an object in some uncertain place. I 

 have here referred to the red cinchona, but let no 

 one imagine that in doing so I exclude " crown," a 

 sort which I am persuaded, if properly handled, would 

 be a doughty tree to beat. Of the aualysis of barks 

 of this species by Mr. David Howard already pub- 

 lished in your journal, it will be observed that one 

 sample gave 12'30 of sulphate of quinine ; but I am 

 quite satisfied that this is not the highest point the 

 tiee could attain to. Planters should endeavour to 

 recognize the different varieties of each good species, 

 because, although the bark of t*o varieties may con- 

 tain similar amounts of quinine, still, as is often the 

 case, one variety is more hardy and prolific than another, 

 or may succeed better in different descriptions of 

 soil and exposure. The Paid variety of red bark is 

 an example in this way. I was almost going to say 

 that it would pay a planter to make a trip to South 

 America in order to study these and other character- 

 istics of the cinchona in their native habitats. 



Thus far I have made these remarks because I 

 think that Ceylon, which now, of all the planting 

 districts in the East, produces the largest quantity 

 of cinchona, should also aspire to export bark of only 

 the highest general quality. I shall now make only 

 a few remarks on the indiarubbers. The Ceaia and 

 Para trees will probably be found to succeed best 

 at elevations of from 1,000 to 3,000 feet above the 

 sea. The Ceara tree delights in a warm, dry, arid 

 climate, and even in (he most barren and sterile 

 laud in Ceylon it may be expected to thrive well. 



